Real Estate Taxes

What is the current tax rate?
The tax rate for fiscal 2015 is $13.11 per $1,000 of assessed value. This is the rate for both commercial and residential property.

When are tax bills mailed and payments due?
Tax bills are mailed twice per year. The 1st bill is a ‘preliminary’ bill which is usually 1/2 of the amount of the prior year’s total bill and is mailed during the summer. Normally it is due October 1st. The 2nd half (actual bill) is mailed in the spring and is normally due May 1st.

Please make checks payable to the Town of Royalston. Please make sure you include the bill number, bill type (e.g. Excise, or Real Estate) and year along with your payment.

Please include the address of the property you are paying, owners name and parcel ID if known if you do not have the bill.

Want a Receipt?To obtain a receipt, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope and include your entire bill.

What should I do in the event I do not receive my bill?
You should contact the Collector’s Office at 978-249-2927 to request a copy or send an email to tax@royalston-ma.gov.

What happens if I do not pay my bill on time?
The payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid interest charges. If payment is not made, the account will begin to accrue interest at the rate of 14% per year, computed from the date the bill was due. A demand notice will be sent after the 2nd half due date each fiscal year. A demand fee of $5.00 will be charged against the account in addition to the interest. If the account remains delinquent after June 30th of the fiscal year, a tax lien will be placed on the property and recorded with the Registry of Deeds. A tax lien is the first step in the foreclosure process.

Why should I pay interest on a late payment if I never received my bill?
Under state law, failure to receive a bill does not affect the validity of the tax or any interest or fines incurred do to late payment. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to secure his/her tax bill when one is not received. If you do not receive a bill, you must contact the Collector’s office at 978-249-2927 for a copy. However, you must call before the due date of the bill.

What do I need to do if my mortgage company pays my taxes?
If a bank or mortgage company escrows your taxes, you must insure that they make timely payments. Most banks use a tax service that will notify them directly of the amount they need to pay for your taxes. However, if you have recently purchased, refinanced or have a mortgage company that does not use a tax service, it will be up to you to notify them by forwarding your tax bill to them. Your mortgage company can tell you if you need to send them the bill and where to send it.

Abatements and ValuationQuestions about valuation or abatement requests can be directed to the Assessor’s Office at 978-249-0337 or by email to Assessor@royalston-ma.gov.

Payments and BalancesQuestions about payments or balances can be directed to the Collector’s Office at 978-249-2927